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The DA in the Western Cape expresses its horror of today’s shooting in Neptune Lane, Ocean View, which left six dead. This is not only a tragic and unnecessary loss of life, but also a stunning inditement of the state of crimefighting in South Africa.

In a shocking turn of events, it has been confirmed that ongoing blackouts in the area had disabled CCTV cameras at the time of the incident, thus severely hampering the investigation and police response to the incident. At the time of writing, police are currently yet to apprehend a suspect in the case.

Ocean View is served by Ocean View SAPS, one of the Western Cape’s most drastically under-resourced police stations. Despite serving a population of almost 50 000 people, Ocean View only has 61 visible policing units, and 12 detectives. The problem of under-resourcing in the Western Cape is well-known to SAPS management, who described the number of officers in the Western Cape as “way below par” while briefing the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Community Safety last month. At the same briefing, SAPS officials revealed that there are less than 20 000 officers currently operational in the Western Cape.

The incident is also the latest in a number of shootings with multiple victims. Spurred by this and other incidents, the DA reiterates its longstanding call for a dedicated site for the destruction of illegal firearms within the Western Cape, as it is believed that many firearms confiscated by SAPS and LEAP officers find their way back into the hands of criminals while awaiting destruction at the central site in Pretoria.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Safety Gillion Bosman says: “This shocking incident is utterly heartbreaking, and leaves an entire community searching for answers. While there is nothing that can be said to comfort the families of those who have lost their lives, we must recommit ourselves to bringing down instances of crime. What happened today in Neptune Lane is the result of longstanding issues in policing made manifest.  I will be visiting the site today in order to speak to members of the investigating team personally, and will be expediting my committee’s parliamentary oversight visit to SAPS’s firearm destruction facilities. We must ensure that the flow of illegal firearms from SAPS to criminals is stopped for good.”

Issued by Gillion Bosman, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Safety